MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether an official to the Faweett Association was warned that, unless he relinquished his official position in that association as treasurer, he would not receive the promotion he was at that time entitled to as overseer; and whether he is aware that the Fawcett Association asked him to give up his treasurership, and, having done so, he received promotion?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonMr. Groves, the overseer referred to, was promoted on the 16th of June, 1895. In March last, in consequence of his moving an insubordinate resolution at a meeting of the Fawcett Association, he was informed that unless he relinquished his appointment as treasurer to the Association the Postmaster General regretted that he was unable to retain him in the responsible office of overseer, in which the due discharge of his duties as responsible for men under him was obviously hampered by his being a paid officer of the Association. Mr. Groves has resigned the treasurership of the Association, but, as already stated, he was promoted to be overseer in June 1895.